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"When you're promoting anything there's pitfalls and there's going to be problems. It kind of bit him on the bottom.

"Mary J Blige is wonderful but she's not reggae.

"They want to hear reggae, I think it suffered for that."

Instead, Campbell said he would like Raggamuffin to focus on all types of reggae and celebrate it.

"I'd like it to become an annual party."

Overall, Campbell said he loved being part of Raggamuffin and, as always, he was looking forward to heading to Rotorua and basking in the culture and the festivities of next year's event.

"The first was great to be part of," Campbell said. "Rotorua's got a fantastic vibe to it."

He would head to the festival early and listen to as many reggae acts as he could.

He was particularly keen to see Herbs, Katchafire, The Black Seeds and looking forward to getting to work with Toots and the Maytals again.

After Raggamuffin 2013, Campbell will team up with Toots and the Maytals for a one-off concert at Auckland's Vector Arena on February 3 - the day after Rotorua's Raggamuffin festival. Tickets go on sale for the Auckland concert today.

Raggamuffin promoter Jackie Sanders from McManus Entertainment did not think the Auckland concert would impact on Rotorua's Raggamuffin festival.

"Ali Campbell's UB40 appeals to a very wide ranging demographic. His performance in Auckland will target an audience that would not necessarily attend Raggamuffin," Ms Sanders said.

Campbell is the legendary voice of UB40 and the hits Red Red Wine, Kingston Town, If It Happens Again and I Can't Help Falling In Love.

He has sold more than 70 million records worldwide as the frontman for UB40.

They notched up four number No1 worldwide singles, more than 40 Top 40 UK singles, released 24 studio albums and received an Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement.

Toots and the Maytals influenced many future artists. Pressure Drop was covered by the Clash and Monkey Man became one of the signature songs of the 80s UK ska revival thanks to The Specials cover which was also later covered by Amy Winehouse and No Doubt.

Toots and the Maytals remain a relevant musical influence, with Grammy nomination for the 2008 release Light Your Light. In recent years Toots has toured with The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews, Sheryl Crow and Los Lonely Boys.